FAMILY LAW

Adoption – Stepparent Adoption – Divorce – Child Custody – Parental Rights – Modifications

FAMILY LAW

At Esplin|Weight, we realize that family law involves many sensitive and potentially painful issues. Our attorneys work to guide you through this difficult process as quickly and easily as possible.

Our practice encompasses all aspects of family law. And our family lawyers advise and represent clients in matters involving:

Divorce
Child custody and visitation
Child support
Spousal support (alimony)
Post-decree modifications to support and custody orders
Domestic violence and protective orders
Property division
Adoptions
Termination of parental rights
And others

Whenever possible, we offer mediation as an alternative way to resolve disputes cost-effectively without the necessity for court appearances or trials. Mediation also achieves results with less emotional turmoil for the parties—and with less stress and strife, children can adapt more quickly to the new reality of their lives. When a dispute is contentious, however, we are not reluctant to pursue litigation in order to assertively protect the rights and interests of our client.

Our family law attorneys work in tandem with our caring support staff to ensure that your experience during this time is as pleasant as possible, and that your case is resolved in the manner you desire.

For an initial consultation with our family lawyers in Utah, call 801.373.4912, or contact us online.

Read our Family Law Explained blog to learn more.

ADOPTION

Experienced Adoption Lawyers in Provo, UT

Adoption is a process by which you become the legal parent of a child born to different birth parents. People adopt for many reasons and under many circumstances, but the legal process is essentially the same in most cases.

At Esplin | Weight, our Utah family lawyers are here to facilitate any and all types of adoption under state law. If you are considering adopting a child, contact us by phone at 801-373-4912 or at our offices in Provo to discuss how we can help you.

Handling All Legal Aspects of the Adoption Process

At Esplin | Weight, our family law attorneys have extensive experience handling the necessary legal tasks for all types of adoptions in Utah, including but not limited to the following categories:

Stepparent adoptions
Grandparent adoptions
Agency adoptions
International adoptions
Unmarried couple adoptions

We are familiar with the timelines for adoption, the role of a child’s preference in adoption decisions based on that child’s age, name change requirements, birth certificate procedures and all other legal aspects of the adoption process. We also have good referral sources for pre- and post-adoption evaluators.

Understanding Termination of Parental Rights

Before an adoption can take place, it is necessary to voluntarily or involuntarily terminate the rights of the child’s birth parents. When the adoption is finalized, it puts the child’s adoptive parents in the legal position of parents, with all of the rights that initially adhered to the birth parents.

This can occur in the context of a grandparent adoption case. It can also occur in an agency adoption case where, typically, the birth mother voluntarily terminates her rights, and the birth father’s rights are terminated by default. Utah law has certain benefits when it comes to the latter process.

To discuss what must be done to successfully complete the adoption process so you can have full parental rights over a child in your care, contact our family law attorneys today at 801-373-4912.

STEPPARENT ADOPTION

Provo Stepparent Adoption Lawyers

With the rise of divorces in recent years, adoptions by stepparents have become increasingly commonplace. At Esplin | Weight, our Provo stepparent adoption attorneys can help parents and their children navigate this sometimes complicated process.

If you have remarried and wish to carry out a stepchild adoption, we can help. Contact our Utah family law lawyers online or call 801.373.4912 for an initial consultation.

Experienced Representation in All Aspects of Adoption

The attorneys at our Provo child custody law firm have extensive experience handling all of the legal aspects involved in adoption. We understand the timelines involved, the role of a child’s preference, name change requirements, birth certificate procedures and all other legal aspects of the adoption process. If there are no problems, it is possible to complete the entire procedure in as little as six weeks. We will thoroughly review your situation to let you know how the process is likely to carry out.

Understanding the Termination of Parental Rights

Stepparent adoptions require that the parental rights of the estranged biological parent be terminated. This can be done easily if the biological parent voluntarily waives his or rights. However, if the parent is unwilling to relinquish these rights, things can become more complex.

If a parent is unwilling to give up his or her rights, our Utah adoption lawyers will work tirelessly to show to the court why the parent’s rights should be terminated. Some of the reasons why a court might take this course of action include:

The parent is in prison
The parent is violent
The parent is addicted to drugs
The parent is not involved in the child’s life

It is important to note that when a parent’s rights are terminated, so is the obligation to pay child support. This should be kept in mind when pursuing an adoption. Regardless of whether the adoption is contested or uncontested, we will always work with the best interests of the child in our minds.

Call for a Consultation With a Utah County Parental Rights Attorney

We are dedicated to helping you get legal custody of your stepchildren. Contact our Provo stepparent adoption lawyers online or call 801.373.4912 for an initial consultation to discuss your case.

DIVORCE

Divorce Attorney in Utah

A divorce can generate intense emotions, but it is also a legal procedure with a beginning, a middle, and an end. At Esplin | Weight, our attorneys help clients through this process with sensitivity and concern. In doing so, we work to protect their legal rights throughout the entire process—from the initial petition to the final decree, and after.

We represent and advise clients in all aspects of divorce and family law, including:

Child custody and visitation (parent-time)
Spousal support (alimony)
Marital property division
Post-decree modifications to support and custody orders
Mediation
Paternity
Divorce
And others

A divorce can be relatively amicable, and the various issues resolved quickly and efficiently. Other divorces can be highly contentious and require significant effort in court to resolve child custody or property division issues. We realize that every marriage is different and requires a unique and individualized approach.

When you come to our offices to discuss your situation, you will meet a divorce lawyer who will listen carefully to your needs and concerns. We will explain the divorce process, discuss your options, and develop the right legal plan for you. Then we will work to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve results that will protect your rights and enable you to move forward with your life.

For an initial consultation with a divorce lawyer at Esplin | Weight, call 801.373.4912.

CHILD CUSTODY

Utah Child Custody Lawyer

Child custody and visitation arrangements are among the most difficult issues to resolve during the divorce process. Even long after the divorce is finalized, major disputes can arise as the life situations of the parents and children change.

At Esplin |Weight, we are experienced family law and child custody lawyers. We represent clients in all aspects of custody and child visitation matters, including:

Child custody
Visitation and parenting plans
Modifications to custody and visitation
Grandparent visitation rights
Parental relocations and moveaways
And others

Utah law favors joint legal custody of children, unless other factors convince the court to decide otherwise. In every case, it decides these issues in favor of “the best interests of the child.” Our attorneys can provide you with an evaluation of your situation, and sound advice as to how to proceed both during and after the divorce process. We often use mediation to resolve disputes cost-effectively, and to minimize emotional strife which can negatively affect the lives of children. In situations where sole custody is essential for our client and the child, we assert our client’s interests through vigorous court action.

Much of our child custody practice involves helping clients resolve custody and visitation matters that arise after a divorce. A parent’s new job schedule may require changes in the visitation schedule, for example. We can usually resolve these quickly without the need of the parent’s appearance in court. The relocation of a parent with physical custody rights, however, can prove highly contentious, and may require extensive negotiations or litigation to resolve.

Whatever the custody or visitation matter, our lawyers can provide sound advice and vigorous representation.

For an initial consultation with Esplin | Weight, call 801.373.4912, to speak with an attorney or schedule an office appointment.

PARENTAL RIGHTS

Provo Fathers’ Rights Lawyers

As a parent, you have certain rights and responsibilities to your children that are granted to you under the law. At Esplin | Weight, our Provo fathers’ rights attorneys will stand up for the parental rights of both fathers and mothers. We can assist you in all matters regarding child custody to ensure that the rights you have to be a part of your child’s life are enforced and protected.

If you have been divorced or have split with the parent of your child, we are here to answer any questions you may have concerning your rights as a parent. Contact our Utah family law lawyers online or call 801.373.4912 for an initial consultation.

Helping Make Sense of Custody Terms

There are a lot of misconceptions regarding the definition of custody and what it entails. A parent may have legal custody, which gives the parent the right to make decisions concerning the child’s upbringing in regard to education and religion, amongst other choices. Physical custody refers to where the child is considered to reside. Joint custody can be granted to both parents, but this does not necessarily mean that the time spent with the child will be split equally.

Our Utah divorce lawyers can help explain in-depth the different types of custody available, as well as fathers’ rights and mothers’ rights in regard to parenting time and child support. We can also handle other matters related to divorce, such as property division, qualified domestic relations orders and alimony (spousal support).

Call for a Consultation With a Utah County Property Division Attorney

We stand up for fathers’ rights, mothers’ rights and the rights of parents in general to ensure that their children’s best interests are taken care of. Contact our Provo custodial parent lawyers online or call 801-373-4912 for an initial consultation to discuss your case.

MODIFICATIONS

Provo Divorce Modification Lawyers

A divorce settlement will contain specific terms regarding property division, spousal support, child custody and child support. While the terms of property division are generally set in stone, other provisions may be modified as your circumstances change. At Esplin | Weight, our Provo divorce modification attorneys can help you modify the terms of your divorce settlement or child custody agreement.

If you are seeking to change child visitation time or another part of your divorce agreement, we are here for you. Contact our Utah family law lawyers online or call 801.373.4912 for an initial consultation.

Experienced Representation in All Modification Proceedings

The attorneys at our Provo divorce law firm have extensive experience with modifying certain terms of a divorce order and child custody orders. We can help you if wish to modify the terms concerning:

Child custody
Child support
Spousal support or alimony
Parenting time or visitation time

Our lawyers will review your divorce agreement and your current situation to determine whether you are eligible to modify any of the terms, post-divorce. We will attempt to resolve any issues through negotiation and mediation, which our clients find to be more cost-effective and emotionally satisfying than going through the traditional litigation process.